A waste company is pressing ahead with plans to turn a quarry into a massive landfill site.

The bid to develop Buck Park Quarry, between Denholme and Cullingworth, has taken a step closer to reality after a feasibility study was carried out.

Waste management firm Wastewise will now submit a planning application to Bradford Council.

Up to £2.5 million could be spent in the area over the projected ten-year lifespan of the site, say Wastewise, using cash set aside from the new Landfill Tax which is levied on all waste producers.

In the past, villagers voiced concerns about the proposal because of traffic problems in the area.

But the company says it aims to allay fears by carrying out improvements to Lane Top junction and building a new site access at the top of Whalley Lane.

Bradford councillor Simon Cooke (Con, Bingley Rural) today gave a cautious thumbs-up to the proposed road improvements, but warned that other issues still had to be resolved.

"It's quite a nasty junction because it's a very tight turn left into Denholme from Whalley Lane and it's not well sighted," he said.

"The improvements to the junction are welcome. But there are other concerns which need to be addressed as well, particularly the environmental issues."

Coun Cooke said many residents wanted guarantees about drainage so there would be safeguards against the possibility of water contamination.

Wastewise says the landfill site is needed because Bradford produces 200,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste each year and its existing sites will be full in less than two years.

It has carried out extensive surveys including a hydrogeological study, ecology study and environmental impact assessment and says the Buck Park site meets all the required criteria.

Development director Nick Davies said: "If our proposals are approved the site will be a benefit to the community not only by resolving a waste disposal crisis, but also by putting investment directly into the community.

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